Nhl

New York Rangers center Brad Richards (19) defends against a shot by Montreal Canadiens center Lars Eller (81) toward New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) of Sweden in the first period of their NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013. New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) is at far right. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK — Peter Budaj made 27 saves for his 11th career NHL shutout, and Tomas Plekanec and Alex Galchenyuk provided all the offense Montreal needed as the Canadiens spoiled the Rangers' long-awaited home opener with a 2-0 victory Monday night.

The 31-year-old Budaj was on the top of his game despite playing in place of No. 1 goalie Carey Price for only the second time this season and first since Oct. 10 at Edmonton when he stopped 27 of 28 shots.

Plekanec scored the decisive goal on a power play in the second period. Budaj made it stand up for Montreal (7-5), which had lost three of four since a four-game winning streak.

Galchenyuk scored his second goal of the season with 2:51 left. That sealed the win moments after Budaj blocked an in-close chance for Mats Zuccarello.

The Rangers returned to Madison Square Garden after beginning the season on a nine-game trip, in which they went 3-6, while their home rink got the finishing touches on a $1 billion face lift.

New York ended the trip with a stirring 3-2 overtime win at Detroit on Saturday. But even with a healthy Henrik Lundqvist back in goal following a two-game absence, the Rangers couldn't build off that momentum.

Lundqvist made 25 saves.

Budaj turned aside a quick, hard drive by Chris Kreider by blocking the shot with his glove and deflecting it off the crossbar in the first period. Kreider then set up Derek Stepan in the second with a pass from behind the net out front to the left post, but Kreider's redirection was knocked away.

Budaj's best stop was perhaps 6 minutes into the third period, when the teams were skating 4-on-4 after interference calls 21 seconds apart. J.T. Miller had a partial breakaway in the Montreal zone and fired a drive that Budaj stopped with his left arm.

Miller was denied again by Budaj midway through the third with a hard shot from the right of the crease.

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